Acknowledgments

To Charlotte Phillips, my wife, my best friend, and my person. You are the biggest, most incredible surprise of my life, and proof that the universe knows exactly what it’s doing. Thank you for always being the “wind at my back” and never “the spit in my face.” You graciously love me through all my moments and there isn’t anyone I’d rather love back. You and me against the world, baby.

Thank you from the bottom of my overflowing heart to my family: the Fockers (on both coasts and in the UK). There are no words that accurately describe our clan, our crazy, our love. Your support and entertainment are something I don’t know how I got lucky enough to have. You are a tribe that I never want to be unglued from.

To my MB (mama bear), Ellen Scher: Thank you for editing until your eyes boycotted, and then editing even more. But mostly, thank you for your unconditional everything. Our late-night phone calls in hysterics over some very questionable typos made for moments that exist only in a whirlwind of mother-daughter love. You are my hero.

There is no adequate way to thank Steve Harris, my literary agent, my friend, and half of the coveted Team 22. I remember emailing you once to ask if you’d still be my agent even if our project didn’t sell. I didn’t have to wait five minutes for your reply: “You are my author ’til death do us part (or until you don’t want me no more).” I waited for you almost my enti re life and you did not disappoint. Thank you for being all I ever dreamed of in an agent. Thank you for being honest when my writing was “too boring” to show editors. Ha! You were right. You’re always right. And thank you for also being one hell of a cool lunch date.

I offer my deepest gratitude to the team at Llewellyn, particularly Angela Wix, my editor, who saw something special in me among a very crowded world of authors. I can’t thank you enough for your kindness and patience and for helping me to get to the freakin’ point just a little bit faster. Where were you my whole life? You are simply, literally, the best. And to Andrea Neff, a massive thanks to you for your exquisite talent, focus, brilliant insight, and attention to detail. You helped me to make this book even better than I imagined.

Immense gratitude to the following individuals who, because of their contributions, made this book possible. Melissa Gentzle: you’ve always believed in me more than I do, and it never goes unnoticed. You are a cheerleader like no other, and you’re gonna be an amazing mama for it. Julia Montijo: who edited sample chapters into the wee hours even though you had your own “big girl job” to do, and also for teaching me that when you grow up, you get to make the rules. Cheers, my love! Amanda McAulay: who made me eat lunch and gave me pep talks unconditionally. Thank you for embracing my crazy and being a truly wonderful friend. Nadine Nettman Semerau: we are the only two left in our writers club, but we have proved it was well worth hanging in there. I still can’t believe the crazy awesomeness that has unfolded for us and I can’t wait to stick together for more. The 84th Street neighborhood crew: you edited, organized dinners, and kept my life real when I was stuck at my desk. You are the best neighbors two girls could ask for. TMW: thank you for being the very best listener I know, and for having my twin brain so I never have to explain anything but you still always know what I mean. Dale Paula Teplitz: thank you for changing everything I ever believed about teachers. You are absolutely exceptional. Kate Kerr Clemenson: thank you for flying halfway around the world to save the day when I needed it the most, and for sticking around when you realized what you were in for. Reality check accomplished. Sara DiVello: my “partner-in-writing-crime.” I can’t thank you enough for the phone calls (ohmygosh, the phone calls) and for the countless number of times you had to say, “Seriously, you’ve got this.” And for the times you also said, repeatedly, “Yes, really. You do.” You’ve made me believe in instantaneous friendship. I hope we write many more books together and always have each other’s literary backs.

I can’t go without sharing my never-ending gratitude for the insatiable Shannon Sheridan. How can I thank you for planting those seeds so many moons ago, way before I was ready to water them? This book only bloomed because of you.

And finally, thank you to my circle of angels on the other side. You know what you’ve done.